Surabaya – Can women lead cities? This question became the starting point of Cangkruk Special Edition: Urban Issues Through Women's Lens, a public discussion organized by the Urban and Regional Planning Student Association (HMPL) ITS in collaboration with the ITS Urban and Regional Planning Alumni Association (IKA PWK ITS) and Planologic.
Centered on the theme Urban Issues Through Women's Lens, the forum encouraged participants to explore urban challenges through a gender-inclusive perspective while challenging the long-standing perception that city leadership is predominantly a male domain.
Leadership from Mojokerto
The discussion featured Hj. Ika Puspitasari, S.E., Mayor of Mojokerto, who shared her experience leading the city. Under her administration, Mojokerto was recognized as one of Indonesia's most innovative cities through the 2022 Innovative Government Award (IGA), demonstrating how women leaders can foster innovation and effectively address urban development challenges.
Drawing from her leadership experience, the session highlighted how women's perspectives can contribute to more responsive urban governance—from creating safer public spaces and improving public services to promoting more inclusive urban development that serves the needs of all residents.
An academic and youth perspective
To provide an academic foundation for the discussion, the event opened with a keynote presentation by Dian Rahmawati, S.T., M.T., a lecturer at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), who emphasized the importance of integrating gender perspectives into urban planning. The conversation was further enriched by insights from Angelyca David Vinci, Vice President of the Society of Renewable Energy (SRE) ITS, who shared the perspective of young professionals on women's leadership and sustainable urban development. The discussion was moderated by Aisyah Syakirah, Minister of Action and Propaganda of the ITS Student Executive Board (BEM ITS).
“Rather than viewing women's leadership as an exception, the forum underscored its role as an essential component of building cities that are more equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of their communities.”
An open platform for dialogue
Through this special edition of Cangkruk, Planologic and its collaborators sought to create an open platform for dialogue on the value of diverse perspectives in urban planning and governance. Ultimately, the discussion reaffirmed that effective urban leadership is defined not by gender, but by the ability to deliver innovative, participatory, and people-centered policies capable of addressing the increasingly complex challenges facing contemporary cities.
